No.32 7th February 2025
Hi,
Hope you have had a good week - in our house things have been a little different than usual. If I was following the pattern of prayer which Don Carson had (which you can read about below) I'd be adding another name to my prayer list...lots of thanksgiving prayers.
But others have had a much less happy week and even difficult times...some of them ongoing issues. We are encouraged to hold one another up in prayer before God and ask for his help. I'm looking forward to the church directory coming out soon - much easier to pray as you put names to faces.
And what about those not yet 'believers'? We need to pray for them too - so they hear the Good News of Jesus and respond in faith. Until that point they are lost. In our Home Group last week we looked at Jonah and his need for a compassionate heart for those who were not just different, with alternative beliefs or lifestyle - he was to see those people as ones God loved but who were lost if they wouldn't turn to Him. That should bend our perspective to match how God sees people, and colour our prayers and how we should look for opportunities to share the Gospel...you can read more about these sort of opportunities below.
Enjoy the Mag.
MB
Sunday 9th February
Morning service- 10.30am
Rev Dr Scott Kirkland - Genesis ch4:1-16
Evening Service - with NMBC
6.30 for 7pm - Studies in Galatians
Wednesday - PULSE Prayer Meeting
7.15pm - at the Merriman's
Letter From The Manse
Dear Congregation,
I always look forward to worshipping with you. However, this Sunday I am even more conscious of how blessed I am in leading worship at Mearns Free as we gather in healthy numbers to praise the Lord together.
Last Sunday I preached Bishopbriggs Free Church “vacant” (as we call it when a minister leaves). On the departure of the previous minister, only a very small number now remain to worship together. Let us pray for that congregation as they seek the Lord for coming days.
At Mearns Free Church …This coming Sunday (9th), we shall conclude our service at 11.45 with an alarm!
We want to hear what the fire alarm sounds like and one of the staff from the school will come and set the alarm off for us. We will “walk through” an evacuation so that we are better prepared for an unplanned event.
We shall leave the premises this Sunday when the alarm sounds, gather momentarily on the far side of the car park then return inside for tea and coffee inside as normal. Please do not try to drive your car away during this evacuation process.
Facebook/Instagram …We have now set up a Mearns Free Church Facebook Page and Instagram Page. We are just beginning to populate these with news and events from our congregational life. We hope to grow their use in the coming weeks.
If you are a Facebook or Instagram user, can I encourage you to go onto our Facebook Page and “Like” “Follow” and “Share”. You can find our Facebook page here. You can also find us by searching on Facebook for “Mearns Free Church”. May I ask you to do the same with Instagram also (Follow, Like, Share). You can find our Instagram page here. If you scroll down our pages on Facebook and Instagram you will see some of the information we have already begun to post.
Have a look at our website also. There is a huge amount of information about us, the Free Church and the gospel. A calendar details much of our church life. Upcoming events are also posted with recent news. You can find our website here.
We have now published details of our Hope Explored Course in March.
10 Pin Bowling!...Fun-Fellowship-new friends!
We are arranging a night of 10 Pin Bowling at the Quay for 27th February. Put the date in your diary. We want to have a fun night of fellowship with one another. It will be a great opportunity to bring a non-church friend or family member into contact with our church family, that new friendships might be formed also. This might just be a first step in a journey of faith for some. (I can see a wee competition with prizes and me winning 'Loser of the night'!) Fiona and Brian Waugh will be organizing the evening for us and details will follow by email and the magazine. Please put the date in your diary for your own attendance and begin praying about who you might invite.
Hope Explored…we shall hold a three week course called Hope Explored over afternoon tea on 2nd, 9th and 16th March. Leaflets will be on your chair this Sunday to give to a friend or family member. (You can also point them to information on the website, Facebook or Instagram.) If you are encouraging a friend or family member to come along, it may be helpful to come with them. If you are thinking of professing faith for the first time, then this would be a helpful course to attend. It is however open to all, whatever reason you want to attend, you will be welcome. Please sign up via our office email (office@mearnsfree.org).
Look forward to seeing you on Sunday,
With Warmest Regards
Scott
Emergency Evacuation Training
We want to ensure that our emergency evacuation procedures at Belmont are well known throughout the congregation and are able to be executed as efficiently as possible.
To that end we plan a training for evacuation at the end of worship this Sunday (9th February). (Coffee and tea etc. will then be served in the church hall after the training – the training will only take a few minutes. (I am not allowed to call it a drill because we will know it is happening!)
Most Sundays we project onto the screen a diagram of how to exit the building in the event of an emergency evacuation. Please do take note of the exits on that diagram and make yourselves familiar with the exit routes.
A Few Specific Comments:
If you have a child upstairs during worship (including crèche) please do not go upstairs to find them in the event of an emergency evacuation. The leader of each group has responsibility for following the evacuation plan for them.
I would ask that all crèche, Hizkidz, Primetime leaders/helpers and door team please ensure that you are confident in understanding the evacuation process. If you have any questions please speak with Sandy Halliday (Health and Safety Officer), myself or Alastair McLellan our Session Clerk.
If you drive someone to worship on a Sunday, please take responsibility for ensuring your passenger(s) evacuate(s) the church in reasonable time with everyone else.
Scott
What does Christianity have to say about
HOPE? PEACE? PURPOSE?
Why not make March special?
3 Sunday events to explore where we can find real, lasting hope.
Look out for details and invites to explore with others at Mearns Free Church in an informal setting and Afternoon Tea.
Speak with Margo for more information
Ladybird Book of Mearns Free Church
Welcome Rosie!
Rosie Grace Poole was born on Tuesday 4th February.
Rosie is Rachel and Sam's first child and Margaret and Martin's first grandchild.
When asked about the new arrival Margaret said, 'Yes, it's quite nice, no big deal really.'
Tuesday afternoon is when the Cafe Connect usually meets
PLEASE NOTE - NO MEETING ON 18TH FEBRUARY!
Each Wednesday we meet to pray for the church- local, national and worldwide.
you should try and get along - 1 hour flies by and it's such a important time of fellowship too.
7.15-8.15pm
AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD
This week Martin S talked about a phrase associated with understanding what prayer is -
'An Encounter with God'
It reminded me of an Ian White song of the same name which I often go to.
Here is the link on Youtube with the words, - really worth a listen. And it is part of great album of Ian's called 'Encounter' which you can listen to on Spotify.
We've been looking at this short book for the past couple of weeks - Don Carson helps us see what Paul prioritised in his prayers, and encourages us to shape our prayer lives thoughtfully.
Prayer is a battle for many of us - when?, where?, why can't I concentrate? what to say?, what not to say!? Is this making sense? making a difference?
Let's look at another area Don covers for our encouragement and guidance.
MB
Continued from last week...
Develop a system for your prayer lists. It is difficult to pray faithfully for a large spread of people and concerns without developing prayer lists that help you remember them. These lists come in a variety of forms. Many denominations and mission agencies publish their own prayer lists.
We had SU Scotland last week mentioned in the magazine, and the Watch List which focussed on the persecuted church
Many Christians who give themselves to prayer, however, find that, in addition to such published information, it is wise and fruitful to prepare their own lists. These come in many forms. Some are really a subset of journaling,
(this was mentioned in previous chapter and outlined in last week’s magazine) One approach to journaling involves writing down prayer requests on the left-hand side of a notebook, along with a date and relevant Scriptures, and answers on the right-hand side. This approach has the advantage of encouraging thoughtful, specific requests. General intercession, as important as it may be, cannot so easily be linked to specific answers.
Here Carson outlines his prayer list pattern -
This is his book from some time ago - it doesn't even mention email or notes on your phone or prayer Apps!! Remarkable, I know...see below for how that is now possible...but the key thing is to see how you could adapt it today and be practical about the sort of mental drift we thought about last week.
“I keep a manila folder in my study, where I pray...
The first sheet in that folder is a list of people for whom I ought to pray regularly: they are bound up with me, with who I am. My wife heads the list, followed by my children and a number of relatives, followed in turn by a number of close friends in various parts of the world. The two institutional names on that sheet are the local church of which we are a part, and the seminary where I now teach. Of course, exactly what I pray for these people and institutions will vary from time to time as my perception of their needs changes (as my children grow older, for instance, or as a close friend faces a particular challenge in life or ministry), but the heart of my burden for these people is shaped, so far as I am able to shape it, by my grasp of what Scripture wants of us.
The second sheet in my folder lists short-range and intermediate range concerns that will not remain there indefinitely. They include forthcoming responsibilities in ministry and various crises or opportunities that I have heard about, often among Christians I scarcely know. Either they are the sort of thing that will soon pass into history (like the project of writing this book!), or they concern people or situations too remote for me to remember indefinitely. In other words, the first sheet focuses on people for whom I pray constantly; the second includes people and situations for whom I may pray for a short or an extended period of time, but probably not indefinitely.
The entries on the first sheet do not change, but their particular needs often do; the entries on the second sheet are largely shaped by short-term needs, and names and concerns are being added and deleted often.
The next item in my manila folder is the list of my advisees—the students for whom I am particularly responsible. This list includes some notes on their background, academic program, families, personal concerns and the like, and of course this list changes from year to year.
I am not suggesting that this is the best system. It suits me, and I am happy with it. I need to use it more, not enlarge it more. But the system is flexible, always up-to-date, expandable; above all, it helps me pray. I tell my students that if they want me to pray for them regularly after they graduate, they need to write regular letters to me. Otherwise I shall certainly forget most of them.
Whatever the system, use prayer lists.
All of us would be wiser if we would resolve never to put people down, except on our prayer lists."
How An App Revitalized My Prayer Life
Above is Don Carson's strategy and plan for praying
-however, here is how someone uses an app on their phone to help them
"I say it without hyperbole: PrayerMate revitalized my prayer life. It has been at least a couple of years since I made the move from organizing my prayers in a book to organizing my prayers in an app, and, at least for now, I don’t ever see myself going back. I know that praying from an app is not for everyone, but for me it has made all the difference. Let me tell you how I use it."
Read the 2 min article
here
And see the videos about PrayerMate App here for intro and here for walkthru
Support Lunch - 23rd February
This is advance notice of a lunch EVERYONE is invited to!
After the morning service on 23rd February.
We want to support the work of Scripture Union Scotland as they work in East Renfrewshire and beyond including their weekends and holiday programmes.
More info about this lunch coming soon.
What to know more about the work of SU Scotland?
The brand-new edition of @SU Magazine is ready for you to enjoy.
JUST CLICK HERE TO READ THROUGH THESE ARTICLES
Bibles for Bairns
The Scottish Bible Society is encouraging families and friends to register babies born in 2024 to receive a free toddler Bible.
Once a child has been signed up, they’ll receive the Share a Story Bible on their 1st birthday.
On their 2nd, 3rd and 4th birthdays they will be sent birthday cards and Bible activity resources to encourage the whole family to keep engaging with the toddler Bible.
On their 5th birthday, they’ll be given a children’s Bible.
Anyone can register a child, but you must have the permission of the parent or carer, and the child must have been born in Scotland.
Click here for more info
Praying for One Another Weekly
What a privilege we have in prayer! We can approach the throne of grace with utmost confidence that we are coming before a God who knows us perfectly and loves us endlessly.
Each week we send out a prayer calendar, via email, with prayer points for the week ahead. We pray for the church locally, nationally and globally. It is a real encouragement to see all that God is doing in our communities.
Click
here to get to the prayer points for this week
LARGE
PRINT - SONG WORDS
If you find viewing the song-words on the screen in Sunday worship a problem, we currently print a limited number of large-print song sheets for specific people.
We don't want to print unnecessary copies so please speak with the door team and we will begin to make these available for you each week.
Mearns Free Church has a What's App Group for Prayer -The "PRAY NOW" Group
Purpose: A platform to share information regarding a sudden and crucial need for prayer.
How to connect: Speak to Margaret Boyd if you would like to be added to this group or email Margaret at: mandmboyd@hotmail.co.uk
What tech do I need?: You need to have a Smart Phone with WhatsApp to get set up.
Emailing The Minister
Please be careful when emailing Scott that you are using the correct current email address minister@mearnsfree.org. A number of emails continue to be sent to accounts no longer in use. Please be doubly careful when sending from a device that is not your normal communication device (like a phone) or if you use “reply to all”.
Email Addresses For Mearns Free Church
Please make sure you change your email address list now we are part of the Free Church.
Tom Brown (Office): office@mearnsfree.org
Scott Kirkland (Minister): minister@mearnsfree.org
Sandy McDougall (Treasurer): finance@mearnsfree.org
Pauline Forster (Children and families worker): children@mearnsfree.org